silverharp88
22 posts
Jul 19, 2013
9:01 AM
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Has anyone played these? The names really cheesey but I was wondering if they were any good?
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rogonzab
349 posts
Jul 19, 2013
9:20 AM
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silverharp88,
If you dont have money, save for a while and buy Bigrivers or Harpmasters. Dont waste your time and money finding info and reviews of cheap harps, they are all bad harps, some better than others, but they are all bad harps.
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florida-trader
338 posts
Jul 19, 2013
9:28 AM
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Amen!
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Tom Halchak
www.BlueMoonHarmonicas.com
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HawkeyeKane
1899 posts
Jul 19, 2013
10:11 AM
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Yes. Those are on a par with Blues Bands and Hot Metals...ie-BAD. I think the best cheapie that Hohner makes these days is the Blues Bender, and it's only on a par with the Silvertone Deluxe. Rogonzab's right. Save a bit and go with Big Rivers.
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Hawkeye Kane
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timeistight
1296 posts
Jul 19, 2013
11:08 AM
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@silverharp88, I think you really, really want to buy some cheap harps despite what everyone here keeps telling you, so here's what I'd suggest: Take turns buying good harps and cheap harps, buying a different brand and key each time. You already have C and G harps, so buy good harps in A, D, F, Bb and Eb and buy cheap harps in Ab, B, Db, E and F#.
You'll wind up with a full set you can jam with and enough experience to decide which brands you like.
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KingoBad
1354 posts
Jul 19, 2013
11:18 AM
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If you had something to barter like... Um... Beef jerky or something - perhaps you could trade for better harps...
Seriously... Save up and don't put yourself through the pain we are warning you about.
Or... Go ahead, but don't come looking for any sympathy...
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Danny
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tookatooka
3398 posts
Jul 19, 2013
11:28 AM
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@KingoBad. Bwa ha ha! Oh how I miss TNFrank. I used to laugh so much at his posts.
@Silverharp88. If the cost is really a problem get onto eBay. You can usually pick up a used Special 20 or Harpmaster which would be better than a real cheapie model.
I think this is the second time I've suggested this.
Last Edited by tookatooka on Jul 19, 2013 11:30 AM
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nacoran
6954 posts
Jul 19, 2013
11:53 AM
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Timeistight is making a good point. I very deliberately tried a different brand of harp with almost every purchase. It's a good way to find what you like.
Here is another question though- how do you feel about cleaning harps up- taking them apart? Another option is to look on ebay for a batch of used harps, if you are comfortable cleaning and sterilizing them. If you get them from someone as a batch sometimes you'll get a good deal. I got a batch of 2 Marine Bands, a Silver Tone and a pre-MS Blues Harp a couple years back for under $20 I think. The key is to get a vendor with a really good rating who is willing to confirm that all the holes play with no rattles or anything. All 4 harps played. I didn't really like the Silvertone- it was leaky although I did like the cover design, very comfortable, the Marine Bands were functional, and the pre-MS Blues Harp actually turned out to be a great harp. They all look used. They aren't shiny or pretty, but they play better than Bluesbands.
Only do it on lots though. You are going to spend another few bucks on shipping, and, for instance $20 + $7 shipping and handling for 4 harps is very different math than $5 +$7 shipping and handling for one harp.
Look in the vintage harps section, not the new harp section. I've only done this a couple times, but I've had pretty good luck. Stick to Marine Bands and Blues Harps mostly- especially if the Blues Harps have a wavy cut line on the end of the covers near the screws. Try to keep the cost per harp, including shipping, under $10. (There is a pretty Blues Harp for sale for $10 'Buy it Now' but it's got $7 in S&H, so it ends up costing $17.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Hohner-Germany-Blues-Harp-Harmonica-in-A-/111117424580?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19df1d57c4
Actually, for $17 for the key of A, pre-MS... if I knew for certain it played... see, this is why I don't go to eBay often... must... not... buy...
That's why lots are better. You'll lose some auctions, but just wait and watch and you may be able to pick up a deal. Really pay attention to the dealers seller rating. Only deal with 99%+.
If you get a lemon in the bunch, chuck it in a drawer, and when you have a few, send it out for reed replacement to MP or Arzajac. If you get a really good harp in the bunch, down the line you can upgrade the comb.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/M-Hohner-Lot-of-5-/231015739074?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35c99c6ec2
(The 'as is' worries me a bit, but that's an older MB- the price is likely going to go up since there is still a lot of time on the auction, but even at $20 that would be worth the risk. The cover is really worn, so maybe it will keep the collectors away?)
edit: Not a great selection of keys in the set though- what are your thoughts on learning to retune? And on closer inspection, that 'old' marine band might be an octave tuned harp, so maybe the lot isn't as old or worthwhile... oh well.
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Nate
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Last Edited by nacoran on Jul 19, 2013 12:16 PM
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timeistight
1297 posts
Jul 19, 2013
2:19 PM
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@nacoran: I don't think the OP is interested in used harps (or maybe he just isn't interested in quality harps at all). FMWoodeye offered in another thread to send him a couple of free Marine Bands and the OP is still asking new questions about cheap harps.
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tookatooka
3399 posts
Jul 19, 2013
2:52 PM
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In a previous post silverharp88 said," I taught myself to play the spoons. and I also play the wash tub bass as well". My problem is I can't help thinking this is TNFrank re-incarnated.
I'm sorry if I'm wrong, but I do remember people giving advice over and over in the past, all to no avail. It was quite entertaining though.
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harmonicanick
2004 posts
Jul 19, 2013
2:55 PM
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@kingobad
Stop that..
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silverharp88
23 posts
Jul 19, 2013
3:34 PM
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I don't remember seeing offers for free harps. and I'm not trying to repeat like a broken record. I don't know much about harps and I'm asking questions is all.
I've checked out rays music and I'm considering that.
I'm very grateful for all the answers I get from everyone. Thanks for being so patient.
oh and what's so funny about playing the spoons? or Washtub bass. I'd like to see you make a bucket sound good tookatooka. Check out Fritz Richmond before you judge.
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timeistight
1298 posts
Jul 19, 2013
4:14 PM
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"I don't remember seeing offers for free harps."
Here's what FMWoodeye wrote in the "johnson blues king/jambone/bluesband" thread you started two days ago:Give me your address, and I will send you the two Marine Band harps. One is in C, and one is in A. Email me at lzoia@comcast.net if you're interested. "I don't know much about harps and I'm asking questions is all."
And you're getting lots of answers to your questions. You do have to read them, though, if you want to learn anything.
Last Edited by timeistight on Jul 19, 2013 4:49 PM
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FMWoodeye
756 posts
Jul 19, 2013
4:56 PM
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The offer is still open. The combs have been flat-sanded and sealed. They are gapped and tuned and have been VERY lightly played. I just don't care for wooden combs. If I keep them, I will have to pay Andrew to replace the combs, and all I will gain is two more harps in very redundant keys for me. Lemme know. It's a limited-time offer as I'm undergoing a surgery on the 29th and will be incommunicado for a couple of months.
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silverharp88
24 posts
Jul 19, 2013
5:36 PM
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thanks FMWoodeye!
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KingoBad
1356 posts
Jul 19, 2013
6:25 PM
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@harmonicanick. Hee hee!!!!!! You should know by now that I can't help myself!
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Danny
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nacoran
6955 posts
Jul 19, 2013
8:25 PM
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Timeistight, I think he is interested in inexpensive harps and trying to make sure he doesn't get cheap harps instead.
FMWoodey, nice gesture. :)
Silverharp, I actually heard someone playing the spoons the other day. Pretty cool. (And washtub bass sounds cool too).
In case you are wondering, the TN reference, well, it's an inside joke, partially because he deleted a huge chunk of his posts. I certainly know what it's like to have to stretch a budget. This is the first time I've had breathing room in years and I'm so used to being broke I have to convince myself for days that I can afford something before I buy it.
TNFrank was a character though. He got 1400 posts in a matter of a couple months, and they were largely about cheap harps. I think he was recently unemployed and had a lot of time on his hands. I personally got along with him pretty well, but he kind of overwhelmed people, so cheap harps became a bit of a sore subject. He was a lot of fun too though. He was a hunter, and he had some homemade venison jerky and he very nearly pulled off an international trade with someone from Scandinavia where he would have shipped some jerky across the ocean in exchange for some harps. I think finally there was some worry about whether shipping meat internationally would cause some customs issues. I really do understand cost issues. The problem is, the harmonica market seems to be pretty evenly priced to quality. For the most part, a $30 harmonica from one company will play like a $30 harp from another company, and all $5 harps will play badly (or at least as a rule they will- every now and then you will find one single harp that plays well, but it doesn't seem to have anything to do with the model, just luck of the draw.)
Cheap harps will usually either have sharp metal edges or terrible plastic aftertaste or be completely unplayable. For the record, the absolute worst harp I have played is a 'Doug & Melissa' brand tremolo harp that I bought in an ice cream shop. I think the reeds were aluminum and the covers were painted plastic. Fortunately, I only bought it because I wanted to look inside a tremolo to see how they worked. My other tremolos were held together with nails and $5 was a reasonable price to pay to not have to hassle with taking them apart. I've bought Piedmonts, because the case they came in was cheaper than the other cases, and I've had a couple Piedmonts that, with gapping, played well- including a D that was actually really good, but the quality control is terrible and the plastic tastes like old cheese. When you get to the point where you want to play around with tinkering with harps they aren't a bad way to start- you don't feel nearly as bad when you snap a reed trying to emboss when it's from a $5 harp as when you ruin an more expensive one.
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Nate
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silverharp88
25 posts
Jul 19, 2013
8:37 PM
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Thanks for all the advice on harps nacoran. Also glad to hear you enjoyed the spoons/gutbucket bass
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